EXPECTED BATTERY LIFE NOTIFICATION

Abstract

A battery powered device has a rechargeable battery and a display. A programmed processor is programmed to: determine a charge state of the rechargeable battery; detect a trigger event; calculate an estimate of remaining battery time from the determined charge state; compare the determined charge state with a threshold value; set a display color to a first color if the determined charge state is less than the threshold value and to a second color if the determined charge state is greater than the threshold value; and cause the display to display a remaining battery time estimate upon detection of the trigger event, where the display displays the remaining battery time estimate in either the first or second color as set by the processor.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a remaining battery life indicator system.

BACKGROUND

In warehouse environments, it is often important that operators are able to get through a full shift of operation with a single mobile device without need to recharge. However, as the user removes a device from charge cradle there is little or no indication on whether the device will last the full shift.

Therefore, a need exists for a device power remaining indicator that provides a user with an estimate of remaining time on a battery charge.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, in one aspect, the present invention embraces a battery powered device having a rechargeable battery and a display. A programmed processor is programmed to: determine a charge state of the rechargeable battery; detect a trigger event; calculate an estimate of remaining battery time from the determined charge state; compare the determined charge state with a threshold value; set a display color to a first color if the determined charge state is less than the threshold value and to a second color if the determined charge state is greater than the threshold value; and cause the display to display a remaining battery time estimate upon detection of the trigger event, where the display displays the remaining battery time estimate in either the first or second color as set by the processor.

In accord with certain examples, the threshold is expressed in time and the comparing compares the estimate of remaining battery time to the threshold. In accord with certain examples, the threshold is expressed in current per unit time and where the comparing compares the charge state expressed in current per unit time with the threshold. In accord with certain examples, the trigger event comprises removal of the device from a charger. In accord with certain examples, the trigger event comprises booting or rebooting of the device. In accord with certain examples, the trigger event comprises manual entry of a command to display estimated battery time. In accord with certain examples, the trigger event comprises manual entry of a request of a user received from a user interface. In accord with certain examples, the trigger event comprises any one of three events, and where the three events comprise: a manual entry of a request of a user received from a user interface; disengaging the device from a charger; and booting or rebooting the device. In accord with certain examples, the processor is further programmed to set a timer to time an amount of time that the estimated battery time is displayed. In accord with certain examples, the processor halts display of the estimated battery time with the timer reaches a specified time of display of the estimated battery time. In accord with certain examples, the processor is further programmed to halt display of the estimated battery time upon receipt of a user command to halt the display of the estimated battery time. In accord with certain examples, the processor is further programmed to halt display of the estimated battery time upon expiration of a timer.

In another exemplary embodiment, a battery powered device has a rechargeable battery and a user interface including a display. A programmed processor is programmed to: determine a charge state of the rechargeable battery; detect a trigger event, where the trigger event comprises any one of: disengaging the device from a charger; and booting or rebooting the device; calculate an estimate of remaining battery time from the determined charge state; compare the determined charge state with a threshold value; set a display color to a first color if the determined charge state is less than the threshold value and to a second color if the determined charge state is greater than the threshold value; cause the display to display a remaining battery time estimate upon detection of the trigger event, where the display displays the remaining battery time estimate in either the first or second color as set by the processor; and time an amount of time that the display has been displaying the remaining battery time estimate.

In certain implementations, the threshold is expressed in time and where the comparing compares the estimate of remaining battery time to the threshold. In certain implementations, the threshold is expressed in current per unit time and where the comparing compares the charge state expressed in current per unit time with the threshold. In certain implementations, the processor causes the display to be released from display of the remaining battery life upon receipt of a user command from the user interface. In certain implementations, the processor causes the display to be released from display of the remaining battery life when the amount of time that the display has been displaying battery time exceeds a timer expiration time.

In yet another example embodiment, a battery powered device has a rechargeable battery and a user interface including a display. A programmed processor is programmed to: determine a charge state of the rechargeable battery; detect a trigger event, where the trigger event comprises any one of: disengaging the device from a charger; and booting or rebooting the device; calculate an estimate of remaining battery time from the determined charge state; compare the estimated battery time with a threshold value; set a display color to a first color if the determined charge state is less than the threshold value and to a second color if the determined charge state is greater than the threshold value; cause the display to display a remaining battery time estimate upon detection of the trigger event, where the display displays the remaining battery time estimate in either the first or second color as set by the processor; time an amount of time that the display has been displaying the remaining battery time estimate; release the display from displaying the remaining battery life upon receipt of a user command from the user interface; and release the display from displaying the remaining battery life when the amount of time that the display has been displaying battery time exceeds a timer expiration time.

The foregoing illustrative summary, as well as other exemplary objectives and/or advantages of the invention, and the manner in which the same are accomplished, are further explained within the following detailed description and its accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 schematically depicts a portable device and charger system consistent with certain embodiments.

FIG. 2 depicts an example process flow chart for a process consistent with the present invention.

FIG. 3 depicts an example process flow chart for a process consistent with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention embraces a system for providing a user with an estimate of remaining battery time when a specified event occurs.

In an exemplary embodiment, as depicted in FIG. 1, a portable device 10 such as a bar code reader device incorporates an internal processor 14 that utilizes internal memory 18 in a more or less conventional manner. Memory 18 may incorporate a database 22 that will be discussed later. The device 10 further incorporates a user interface 26 that includes a visual display 30 as well as other user interface elements such as a keyboard or keypad, bar code reader, camera, speaker or other elements. The system operates under the control of processor 14 to carry out its programmed function. Battery 34 provides energy to power the device 10 for as long as the battery is charged. When charging is required, or at the end of a shift for example, the device 10 may be placed in a charging station 38 such as a charging cradle to replenish the battery's charge.

In one example embodiment, a warehouse worker may utilize a bar code reader or the like during his or her shift. Since a company's productivity may depend upon the worker being able to complete a shift without need to exchange or recharge battery 34, and since a worker's pay may be related to the efficiency of his or her work, it is beneficial to all for the battery 34 to live at least as long as the worker's shift. Otherwise, there could be 10-20 minutes of down time when the battery fails and the operator must walk back to the central charging station.

Unfortunately, most battery life indicators do not provide a meaningful representation of the amount of time that a worker can depend upon the battery 34 being capable of operating device 10. Many such indicators give only a coarse indication of battery charge in the form of three or four bars on a bar graph or a percentage.

In accord with the present teachings, a configurable notification system is provided in which a triggering event that can be sensed/detected and this event is used to trigger a display of estimated battery life. Some examples of the triggering event include: power on, undocking from a charge cradle, press of a certain key, etc. When the programmed event is detected, the processor 14 displays a large screen notification to visual display 30 that provides the user with an estimate of remaining battery life such as “8 hrs of estimated use”.

This notification can also be provided with programmable levels for conditional formatting such that if the number of hours of estimated battery time is above a threshold amount of time, the notification is in green. If the estimate is below this threshold, the notification is displayed in red. This notification message can be configured to display for a period of time (i.e. 1-2 seconds) or to be cleared with a key press (any key or a designated key).

In one example, the system is programmed such that the estimated battery life message appears on removal of device 10 from of a charging station 38 or at the time that device 10 is booted up. This will alert the user of the amount of estimated battery life at the beginning of use. The display can be cleared with a button press. In this manner, a warehouse operator will be alerted to the amount of battery remaining at the time of removal of the device from a charging station and must acknowledge that the hours of operation will suffice for his/her shift by pressing a key. In the event the worker determines that the battery life is inadequate, the battery or device can be swapped for one that has greater remaining battery life.

Device 10 can incorporate internal logging of operational time and battery voltage that can be used to estimate the remaining charge/capacity of a battery. Device usage metrics can be stored in database 32 so as to refine the estimate of how long it will be until the battery will be depleted, given average or typical or maximum usage over some period of time.

Hence, the processor 10 can be programmed in accord with an example process 100 as depicted in FIG. 2 starting at 102 after which the processor 14 monitors for a trigger event at 104. Trigger events are events that cause the device to display a message alerting the user of an estimate of the remaining battery life. Such events, for example, include removal of device 10 from a charger, turning device 10 on or manually checking the battery life by user input from user interface (e.g., the user pressing a check battery life button, where the button can be an actual mechanical-electrical button or a virtual button on a touchscreen display). Other events may also be used to trigger a battery life display, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the present teachings.

When a trigger event is not detected at 104, the processor 14 continues to monitor (e.g., by interrogation or by receipt of an interrupt or other signal) for a trigger event until one is received at 104. Upon receipt of a trigger event, the processor 14 checks the charge status of the battery at 108 which may simply involve checking a battery voltage at the battery terminals, for example or otherwise checking data indicative of the battery's charge state. The processor 14 then converts this battery data into an estimate of battery life.

Conversion of the data to estimated battery life can be carried out in any number of ways. For example, knowledge of a battery's charge state can be translated by lookup table to a number of milliamp hours of charge in the battery. This can then be divided by the average number of milliamps consumed per hour to determine a number of hours of charge remaining. This can be corrected for a minimum charge acceptable to reliable operation of device 10.

In other embodiments, database 22 can be used to track performance of the device 10 and can be used to relate the number of hours remaining to the charge state of the battery. In other embodiments, a lookup table can be directly accessed and interpolated to determine that a particular charge state on the battery corresponds to an expected battery life.

In any case, an estimate of expected remaining battery life E is produced at 112 and compared to a threshold value T (e.g., 1 hour of remaining battery life) at 118. This threshold value T is used to establish a color of the display that is indicative of the urgency of need for a fresh battery. In this example, if E<T the color used for display of battery life is set to red at 122. Otherwise, the display color is set to green at 126. In either case, control passes to 130 where the estimate of battery life is produced using a full screen display at 130.

Many variations are possible, for example, two colors can be used as shown, or a third color (e.g., amber) can be used if the battery life is between, for example 50% of the expected time and 1 hour. In this case, two thresholds are used: one is a lower threshold (e.g., one hour battery life remaining) and one is a higher threshold (e.g., four hours remaining or 50% of maximum battery life remaining). Other variations will occur to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the present teachings.

Once the display is activated, it is cleared of the battery life estimate in one of two ways in the present example (which is not to be considered limiting) in which a timer is started at 134 which counts off time for a specified period (e.g., 1 or two seconds). Processor 14 then repeatedly checks the timer at 138 to determine if the specified time period has been reached or exceeded. If the timer has not expired at 138, the processor checks to see if the display has been manually cleared (e.g., by pressing any button or a specified button or the display itself in the case of a touchscreen display). If either the timer is manually cleared at 150 or expired at 138, the display is turned off at 142 and the process returns at 146 to await a next invocation of the routine.

In another example embodiment as depicted in FIG. 3, a timer is not used. In this example, when a trigger event is detected at 104, the only way the display is cleared is by the user manually causing the display to clear by operating a dedicated hardware or virtual button. In this manner, the user is largely required to check battery life remaining before the display is released from the battery life display mode. In this variation, the timer is eliminated, but in other embodiments, for example, the timer may be used when the trigger event is a manual command requesting the amount of remaining battery. Other variations will occur to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the present teachings.

In this manner a configurable notification system senses or detects an event like removal from charger, reboot, or pressing certain key button to trigger a notification displaying estimated life of the battery. The notification may be conditionally displayed in various color schemes etc. according to the remaining battery life.

To supplement the present disclosure, this application incorporates entirely by reference the following commonly assigned patents, patent application publications, and patent applications:

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In the specification and/or figures, typical embodiments of the invention have been disclosed. The present invention is not limited to such exemplary embodiments. The use of the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. The figures are schematic representations and so are not necessarily drawn to scale. Unless otherwise noted, specific terms have been used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation.

Claims

1. A battery powered device, comprising:

a rechargeable battery;

a display;

a programmed processor that is programmed to: determine a charge state of the rechargeable battery; detect a trigger event; calculate an estimate of remaining battery time from the determined charge state; compare the determined charge state with a threshold value; set a display color to a first color if the determined charge state is less than the threshold value and to a second color if the determined charge state is greater than the threshold value; and cause the display to display a remaining battery time estimate upon detection of the trigger event, where the display displays the remaining battery time estimate in either the first or second color as set by the processor.

2. The device according to claim 1, where the threshold is expressed in time and where the comparing compares the estimate of remaining battery time to the threshold.

3. The device according to claim 1, where the threshold is expressed in current per unit time and where the comparing compares the charge state expressed in current per unit time with the threshold.

4. The device according to claim 1, where the trigger event comprises removal of the device from a charger.

5. The device according to claim 1, where the trigger event comprises booting or rebooting of the device.

6. The device according to claim 1, where the trigger event comprises manual entry of a command to display estimated battery time.

7. The device according to claim 1, where the trigger event comprises manual entry of a request of a user received from a user interface.

8. The device according to claim 1, where the trigger event comprises any one of three events, and where the three events comprise: a manual entry of a request of a user received from a user interface; disengaging the device from a charger; and booting or rebooting the device.

9. The device according to claim 1, where the processor is further programmed to set a timer that times an amount of time that the estimated battery time is displayed.

10. The device according to claim 9, further comprising halting display of the estimated battery time with the timer reaches a specified time of display of the estimated battery time.

11. The device according to claim 1, where the processor is further programmed to halt display of the estimated battery time upon receipt of a user command to halt the display of the estimated battery time.

12. The device according to claim 1, where the processor is further programmed to halt display of the estimated battery time upon expiration of a timer.

13. A battery powered device, comprising:

a rechargeable battery;

a user interface including a display;

a programmed processor that is programmed to: determine a charge state of the rechargeable battery; detect a trigger event, where the trigger event comprises any one of: disengaging the device from a charger; and booting or rebooting the device; calculate an estimate of remaining battery time from the determined charge state; compare the determined charge state with a threshold value; set a display color to a first color if the determined charge state is less than the threshold value and to a second color if the determined charge state is greater than the threshold value; cause the display to display a remaining battery time estimate upon detection of the trigger event, where the display displays the remaining battery time estimate in either the first or second color as set by the processor; and time an amount of time that the display has been displaying the remaining battery time estimate.

14. The device according to claim 13, where the threshold is expressed in time and where the comparing compares the estimate of remaining battery time to the threshold.

15. The device according to claim 13, where the threshold is expressed in current per unit time and where the comparing compares the charge state expressed in current per unit time with the threshold.

16. The device according to claim 13, where the processor causes the display to be released from display of the remaining battery life upon receipt of a user command from the user interface.

17. The device according to claim 13, where the processor causes the display to be released from display of the remaining battery life when the amount of time that the display has been displaying battery time exceeds a timer expiration time.

18. A battery powered device, comprising:

a rechargeable battery;

a user interface including a display;

a programmed processor that is programmed to: determine a charge state of the rechargeable battery; detect a trigger event, where the trigger event comprises any one of: disengaging the device from a charger; and booting or rebooting the device; calculate an estimate of remaining battery time from the determined charge state; compare the estimated battery time with a threshold value; set a display color to a first color if the determined charge state is less than the threshold value and to a second color if the determined charge state is greater than the threshold value; cause the display to display a remaining battery time estimate upon detection of the trigger event, where the display displays the remaining battery time estimate in either the first or second color as set by the processor; time an amount of time that the display has been displaying the remaining battery time estimate; release the display from displaying the remaining battery life upon receipt of a user command from the user interface; and release the display from displaying the remaining battery life when the amount of time that the display has been displaying battery time exceeds a timer expiration time.